Previews

Damnation

Blue Omega hopes that a clean UI, free of abstractions like health meters and objective markers, will help players bring the scope of their traversal options into focus. The aim is to make big-picture objectives highly visible from any site on a given map, making it simply a matter of figuring out a path. Does all this really amount to something we could earnestly call a "shooter gone vertical"? Perhaps in a manner of speaking. But Gilbert did mention a four-wheeled "steam cycle" with the capability to ride on walls that could contribute to the argument (or, at the very least, provide action figure manufacturers something else to peddle at comic book conventions).

Friends and Benefits

Peacekeeper Hamilton Rourke (the "Peacekeepers" being a group that's opposed to what Prescott is doing) won't travel alone. Our demo revealed two companions, a scantily-clad female soldier wearing steampunk goggles and some fellow who was frankly nondescript in comparison. Neither said much during the intro level that comprised our demo, and Gilbert assured us that Rourke was indeed the hero of the story, so infer from what you will.

Damnation will have the multiplayer options you'd expect: deathmatch, both solo and team; king of the hill; capture the flag and co-op play. Gilbert mentioned a cap of eight players for competitive modes, and two for co-op. Our hosts assured us that the game would be present at E3 next month, so look for more impressions then. Damnation is due out this fall.